Automatic grinder



April 13, 1965 G. B. MILLER AUTOMATIC GRINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1962 G/yde B. Mil/er INVENTOR.

April 13, 1965 G. B. MILLER AUTOMATIC GRINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1962 G/)de B. Mil/er INVENTOR. BY @meda www 3mm 3,177,622 AUIGMA'I'IC GER Glyde B. Miller, 1019 E. Church St., iowa City, Iowa Filed Apr. I9, 1962, Ser. No. 138,639 Claims. (Cl. 51--2) This invention relates to a grinding machine for sharpening of knives, cutters and other cutting edges particularly in connection with meat cutting and preparing equipment.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a grinding machine which is capable of precision sharpening operation when needed and yet suiiciently versatile for lthe sharpening of the various cutting edges associated with the parts of meat cutting and preparing equipment.

In 'accordance with the foregoing object, the grinding machine of the present invention involves a directly powered abrading tool mounted for rotation about a grinder axis that may be fixed either in a horizontal position or in a vertical position depending upon the type of grinding and work to be performed. The machine therefore also features a rotary work holder that may be drivingly connected to the grinder motor for rotating the work surface and oscillating the rotating work surface in a fixed plane with respect to which the abrasive wheel may be fed for precision grinding purposes. Alternatively, the rotary work holder assembly may be disconnected and a slidable Work holding attachment mounted on the machine for hollow grinding purposes. ther enhanced by repositioning the abrasive wheel and grinder moto-r to a vertical position so that the upper exposed side of the abrasive wheel may be conveniently utilized for sharpening various tools. Beveled surface type grinding wheels may therefore be used in connection with the grinding machine, said wheels being preferably made of bauxite clay similar to those used in connection with fine cutlery. The grinding machine also features a positive gear transmission within the base housing by means of which one end o-f the `grinder motor is drivingly connected to the work holder for both rotation of the work about the work holder axis and for oscillation thereof through `a 180 arc by means of a disconnectible oscillatory drive.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction rand operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming -a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the grinding machine with parts removed, parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the complete grinder machine in one position thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the grinder machine inthe horizontal grinding position as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of the grinding machiner in a vertical grinding position.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the grinding machine utilizing a work holding attachment for hollow grinding purposes.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial sectional View through a portion of the grinding machine.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial sectional View representing a portion of the machine as illustrated in FIGURE 6 but illustrating the machine in another position.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of a portion of the machine as viewed from the plane indicated by sectionline 8--8 in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be ob- The machines versatility is fur- United States Patent O lriz Patented Apr; I3, i965 fice served from FIGURE 2, that the grinding machine generally referred toby reference numeral 10 includes a base assembly portion generally referred yto by reference numeral l2 above which is mounted a direct drive power operated abrasive wheel assembly 14 and a work holding assembly generally referred to by reference numeral I6. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the abrasive wheel assembly 14 is in a horizontal position as compared to the vertical position illustrated in FIGURE 4. When the workpiece which :may be a sausage plate for example or a cutting rotor, `is mounted on the work holding lassembly 16 and the drive thereto is connected, as indicated in FIGURE 3, the workpiece may be rotated about a rotational axis which in turn is oscillated through an arc of as indicated by the arrow I8. Accordingly, the work surface being so arcuately moved in a fixed plane, may be ground by exposure to the rotary grinding wheel assembly 14 which is provided with means mounted on the base assembly 12 for feeding of the grinder assembly toward and away from the rotating plane of the work holder assembly 16. The work in the form of a sausage knife element 20 for example as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 8, may alternatively be mounted on a blade holder attachment generally referred to by reference numeral 22 for hollow grinding purposes in which case the work holder assembly 16 will be disposed in an out-of-the-way position and the oscillatory drive 24 associated therewith will be disconnected. Finally, manual grinding procedures may be utilized for sharpening the knife blades or tools by rte-positioning the grinding wheel assembly 14 in a vertical position as illustrated in FIGURE 4 in which case the flexible power takeoif drive 26 will be disconnected and removed.

The base assembly 12 includes a supporting base portion 23 above which is mounted a gear housing 3h including parallel side walls defining an elevated portion 32 above which 4the grinding wheel assembly i4 is mounted with the -abrasive wheel 34 thereof disposed in overhanging relation to the elevated portion. Fixedly mounted above the elevated portion of the housing, is a supporting plate member 36 to which the assembly 14 is pivotally connected. Accordingly, `one end ofthe plate merrrber 36 has a pair of pivot ears 38 connected thereto through which a pivot bolt assembly 40 extends for pivotal connection to the ears 3S of pivotal connecting members 42 projecting from a slide support member 44 of the assembly 14. The pivotal connecting members 42 therefore include limit stop portions 46 as more clearly seen in FIG- URES 6 and 7 by means of which the assembly 14 may be pivotally displaced from its horizontal position to the vertical position with the rotational axis thereof perfectly vertical. A pair of interconnected links 4S and 50 are therefore interconnected between the slide support member 4d and the housing 3). The link element 4S is therefore connected to the housing Sil while the link 5G is connected through a clamping wing nut assembly 52 to a hook member 54 which in turn is pivotally connected to the slide support member 44. The link members will accordingly fold and extend between the conditions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 and may be rigidly maintained in either condition by tightening of the clamping wing nut assembly 52. The abrasive assembly 1liv may thereby be locked lin either its horizontal or Vertical positions. The side-wall of the housing 3d opposite the wall to which the link element 48 is connected, is provided with openings through which the tubular housing 56 extends as more clearly seen in FIGURE l and also an opening through which a crankshaft 53 extends as more clearly seen in FIGURES 3, 5 and 6. The oscillatory drive 24 is therefore drivingly connected to the crankshaft 58 on the outside of the housing 3l) `for connection to the rotary work holder assembly I6 that is oscillatcd about the projecting tubular housing 56.

Y. nected to the gear shaft 96 intermediate the ends theretop of a table slide.70 slidably mounted on the slide support member 44 by means of a 'dovetail arrangement as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6. The table slide is provided vvith. a downwardly depending flange portion72 forming a limit stop when it abuts the top of the elevated portion 32 of the housing exposed by the top support plate member36. Feed means'is therefore Yprovided for adjustablydisplacing the table slide 70 with respectto the slide support member 44 in a direction perpendicular to the rotational grinder axis of the assembly `14. The feed means therefore includes 'a feed screw member' 74 rotatably mounted in the slide support member 44 and threadedly engaging a downwardly projecting nut portion 76 from the slide table 70 which is adjustably moved Within the opening slot '78 formed in theslidev support'member 44. The projecting end of the feed'screw member 74 is spindle, the abrasive wheel-34 is connected for rotationl Y about the grinder tool axis. The abrasive wheel 34 includes therefore, an exposed side portion 84 that may be beveled and a peripheral rim portion 86 for precision Y bearing 144 within which the :hub portion l146Y of thel grinding purposes. Y A shield member 88 is mounted about f a circumferential portion of the abrasive wheel 34 opposite the side to be exposed to the work holder assembly 16 or thehollow grinding work attachment 22. The shield 88 is therefore mounted on the downwardly depending portion 72 of the t-able 70 upon which the` grinder motor v 60-is mounted. Connected to the opposite end'of the motor shaft 82,' is a power take-off pulley 90 by means of which movement is imparted to the rotary Work holding assembly 16.

The power take-off pulley 90 is connected by the flexible driveA 26 to positivey gearing located Vwithin the housing 30. The drive 26 therefore includes an endless belt 92- entrained about the power take-off pulley-90 and a pulley wheel 94 connected-to a gear shaft 96 which extends out the end -w-all of the housing 30. The drive 26 is also pro- 'vided with a belt tightener in the form of a belt-engagingV element 98 mountedeat the end of a lever member 100 which is pivotally mounted on the end wall of the hous-Y ing 30.l Accordingly, the belt Ywill be maintainedrunder the proper tension for all positions to which the motor shaft 82 is shifted with respect to the gear shaft 96 when Ycasing wall 104 andhas a thrust Washer element 106 connected thereto for resisting axial thrust. f Connected to the end of the gear shaftl 96 adjacent the bearing assembly 102, is a bevel gear 108 which is'in rconstant meshy With the bevel gear 110 fixed to the end of a transverse'i output shaft 112 journaledl byspaced bearings Vwithin Ythe tubularl housing 56 aV portion of which'projects outrof the housing 30. Y Accordingly, the projecting `portion of the tubular housing 56 is provided with a sleeve bearing 1114 on which the work holder assembly`16 is journaled., The projecting end of the transverse shaft 1.127h4as connected thereto an voutput; pulley wheel 116 by meansY of*V which rotational movement is 'imparted to workpieces carried on the'work holder assembly 16.

connection isalso provided from the gear shaft196 to the crankshaft 58. Accordingly, a wormgear 118 is con- Y In order4 to` impart oscillatory movement to theV Work holder as. sembly 16 through theoscillatory drive V.24, a ,drivingV of within the gear casing 104. rMeshing With the worm gear 118, is'a horizontally positionedr worm Wheel120 fastened to a vertically supported shaft to which a second worm gear V122 is Ialso fastened.` Asmore clearly seen in vFIGURE 6, the worm gear 122 meshes with a Worm wheel `124 supported onahorizontally positioned shaft Within the housing,.said gear 124 meshing with an output `gear'126 to which the crankshaft 58 is connected.

The oscillatory drive 24 includes a crankdisc 1528V connected to the projecting end of'the crankshaft 58 on which a crankpin'is mounted forconnection to -a pitman 130. The other end of the pitman -is disoonnectibly connected to the Work holder assemblyv 16.

The V*work holder assembly l16 'includes a hub vportion 132 .whichV is Yrotatably mounted by the sleeve bearing 1114 on the Vprojecting portion of the tubular housing- 56. The'hubportion is oonnccted'by a coupling element I134 and `flange portions 136 and l138 to an oscillating arm member 140.' Connected to the. upper end of the arm 140, fis a-sleeve-portion 142Y having a sleeve work holding disc member 148 Ais rjournaled. Connected to the hub portion 146 of the' Work holding discmember 148 by means of a Iwork spindle,kis the pulley Wheel 150 which is drivingly connected to the pulleyv wheel 116 by K the endless' drive belt 152. Accordingly, rotational movement is imparted to the work 'holding` disc member 148 about a work axis perpendicular to the grinder axis through a flexible drive connection., Oscillatory movement is im` served that the housing 30 is provided with a pair of aper-A tured projections'V 154 for slidably receiving la rod 156 forming part of the lwork holding attachment 22 which includes afwork holding lever .member 158 on the up-v per end'of which a knife element workpiece 20 is mounted as more'cle-arly seen inl-FIGURE 8. The surface to beV ground on the workpiece 20 will therefore be in engagement lwith the peripheral grinding portion 86 of the abrasive wheel and may be manually moved in a horizontal direction with respectthereto as the abrasive -wheel 34 isA rotated at a rapid speed. rItV will be appreciated of course, that Iwhen the attachment 22 is so used, the work holder assembly 16 will be displacedY to its out-of-the-way position as illustrated in FIGURE 5 with 24 disconnected therefrom.

VFrom theforegoing description, the operation and utility of the grinding machine of the present invention will be apparent.

It will therefore be appreciated, that the machine may be used for aplurality of different cutting tools requiring different sharpening procedures. The versatility ofthe grinding machine of the present invention 'will thereforel be of great interestespecially since VVit involves no sacrifice of precision with respect to certain sharpening operations.

fThe foregoing is considered*asnillustrativeonly of the r Vprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous y modifications rand changes will readilyoccur to those x skilled in the, art, it is not'desired to limit theginvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the rscope of the invenr tion as claimed. f'

grinder axis'which is pivotallyfdisplaceable between two yfixed positions, Work holder means `displaceably mounted .by the base means forrelative movement ,in parallel the oscillatory drive knife blades or4 y spaced relation to said grinder axis, and drive means mounted in said base means capable of drivingly connecting said abrasive means to the work holder means in only one of said fixed positions for relative displacement between said abrasive means and the holder means in a fixed work plane exposing a Work surface mounted on the holder means to said abrasive means.

,2. The combination of claim 1, including linkage means interconnecting said base means and abrasive means and clamp means mounted on said linkage means to lock said abrasive means in either fixed position of said grinder axis.

3. The combination of claim 2, including feed means slidably mounted on said base means for feeding movement of said abrasive means in a direction perpendicular to said fixed Work plane.

4. A grinding machine for sharpening knife blades or the like comprising, base means, power operated abrasive means rotatably mounted on the base means about a grinder axis which is pivotally displaceable between a horizontal and a vertical position, Work holder means displaceably mounted by the base means for relative movement in parallel spaced relation to said grinder axis, drive means mounted in said base means for drivingly connecting said abrasive means in one of said positions to the Work holder means for relative arcuate displacement of a work surface mounted on the holder means in a fixed work plane exposed to said abrasive means, linkage means interconnecting said base means and abrasive means, clamp means mounted on said linkage means to lock said abrasive means in either position of said grinder axis, feed means slidably mounted on said base means for feeding movement of said abrasive means in a direction perpendicular to said fixed work plane, and means for slidably mounting a blade holding attachment on the base means for sildable movement thereof parallel to said grinder axis in one position thereof, said drive means comprising positive gear means operatively mounted in enclosed relation within said base means, fiexible means drivingly connecting said gear means to said Aabrasive means and work holder means respectively for transfer of continuous rotational movement therebetween, and disconnectible means for operatively connecting the gear means to the Work holder means for oscillation thereof through a fixed stroke for said one position of the abrasive means.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said base means comprises elongated gear housing means having an elevated portion for supporting said abrasive means in overhanging relation thereto in the horizontal position of the grinder axis, pivot means mounted at one end of said elevated portion and pivotally connected to said abrasive means for pivotal displacement thereof, said Work holder means being pivotally mounted by said housing means about an axis perpendicular to grinder axis for oscillatory movement toward and away from said elevated portion when connected to the disconnectible means.

6. The combination of claim wherein said work holder means comprises arm means pivotally mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely through said base means, work holding disc means rotatably mounted at one end of the arm means opposite said pivot axis for movement above s-aid base means, and connecting means mounted intermediate the ends of said arm means for connection thereof to the drive means.

7. A grinding machine for sharpening knife blades or the like comprising, base means, power operated abrasive means rotatably mounted on the base means about a grinder axis which is pivotally displaceable between a horizontal and a vertical position, Work holder means displaceably mounted by the base means for relative arcuate movement in parallel spaced relation to said grinder axis, and drive means mounted in said base means for drivingly connecting said abrasive means in one of said positions to the work holder means for relative arcuate displacement of a work surface mounted on the holder means in a fixed work plane exposed to said abrasive means, said drive means comprising positive gear means operatively mounted in enclosed relation withinsaid base means, flexible means drivingly connecting said gear means to said abrasive means and Work holder means respectively for transfer of continuous rotational movement therebetween, and disconnectible means for operatively connecting the gear means to the work holder means for oscillation thereof through a fixed stroke for said one position of the abrasive means.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said base means comprises elongated gear housing means having an elevated portion for supporting said abrasive means in overhanging relation thereto in the horizontal position of the grinder axis, pivot means mounted at one end of said elevated portion and pivotally connected to said abrasive means for pivotal displacement thereof, said work holder means being pivotally mounted by said housing means about an axis perpendicular to grinder axis for oscillatory movement toward and away from said elevated portion when connected to the disconnectible means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said work holder means comprises arm means piovtally mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely through said housing means, Work holding disc means rotatably mounted at one end of the arm means opposite said pivot axis for movement above said housing means, and connecting means mounted intermediate the ends of said arm means for connection thereto to the disconnectible means.

10. A grinding machine for sharpening knife blades or the like comprising, base means, power operated abrasive means rotatably mounted on the base means about a grinder axis which is pivotally displaceable between a horizontal and a vertical position, work holder means displaceably mounted by the base means for relative arcuate movement in parallel spaced relation to said grinder axis, and drive means mounted in said base means for drivingly connecting said abrasive means in one of said positions to the Work holder means for relative arcuate displacement of a work surface mounted on the holder means in a fixed Work plane exposed to said abrasive means, said base means comprising elongated gear housing means having an elevated portion for supporting said abrasive wheel in overhanging relation thereto in the horizontal position of the grinder axis, pivot means mounted at one end of said elevated portion and piv-otally connected to said abrasive means for pivotal displacement thereof, said Work holder means being pivotally mounted by said housing means about an axis perpendicular to grinder axis for oscillatory movement toward and away from said elevated portion and gear means operatively mounted in the elevated portion of the housing me-ans drivingly connectible to the abrasive wheel and the work holder means.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said work holder means comprises arm means pivotally mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely through said base means, work holding disc means rotatably mounted at one end of the arm means opposite said pivot axis for movement above said base means, and connecting means mounted intermediate the ends of said arm means for connection thereof to the drive means.

12. The combination of cl-airn 1, wherein said drive means includes feed means mounted on a displaceable portion of said base means for feeding movement of said abrasive means in a direction perpendicular to said fixed work plane.

13. The combination of claim 12, 'wherein said -work holder means includes means for slidably mounting a blade holding attachment on the base means for slidable movement thereof parallel to said grinder axis in said one fixed position thereof.

14. A grinding machine for sharpening knife blades or the like comprising, base means, power operated tool axis, -work holder'means displaceab1ymounted bythe, base means for rotation about a yWork axis perpendicular, to the tool axis in rparallel spacedfrelation to saidtooly axis, and drivev means mounted'in said base means for im, 5` parting rotation to the work holder Vmeans and relative v oscillatory movement betWeensaid-tool-axis and the Work Y holder meansA in parallel planes.' .Y

15. The combination of claim 7, including linkage Y. V2,755,601 y l Dodgevr I.; 51-124 Van Valkenburgh 51--254 '.vEnglishnn-; 51-166.7 Y Holman T 51-124L Xk Lux .l 571-109 X means interconnecting said base` means' and abrasive 10 LSPENCER OVERHOLSVER, Prz'marry Ejtaminer.

means and clamp means mounted on said linkage means to lock said abrasive means in either xed position of said grinder axis. 1 v

'J'oHN C. CHRISTIE, LESTER-M. SWINGLE,

Examiners. 

1. A GRINDING MACHINE FOR SHARPENING KNIFE BLADES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, BASE MEANS, POWER OPERATED ABRASIVE MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE MEANS ABOUT A GRINDER AXIS WHICH IS PIVOTALLY DISPLACEABLE BETWEEN TWO FIXED POSITIONS, WORK HOLDER MEANS DISPLACEABLE MOUNTED BY THE BASE MEANS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO SAID GRINDER AXIS, AND DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID BASE MEANS CAPABLE OF DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID ABRASIVE MEANS TO THE WORK HOLDER MEANS IN ONLY ONE OF SAID FIXED POSITIONS FOR RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN SAID ABRASIVE MEANS AND THE HOLDER MEANS IN A FIXED WORK PLANE EXPOSING A WORK SURFACE MOUNTED ON THE HOLDER MEANS TO SAID ABRASIVE MEANS. 